Probe sought into Chidambaram’s role in Hashimpura massacare

New Delhi, March 31 (IANS) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy on Thursday asked the Delhi High Court to direct the Uttar Pradesh police to probe the role of Congress leader P. Chidambaram, who was union minister of state for home at the time of 1987 Hashimpura massacre.

Swamy told the division bench of Justice G.S. Sistani and Justice Sangita Dhingra Sehgal that Uttar Pradesh Police should investigate all aspects in the case.

“It’s a case of genocide,” said Swamy. He claimed that according to newspaper reports, “Uttar Pradesh government has started destroying documents relating to the case”.

Forty-two people were killed in Hashimpura village in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh on May 22, 1987, when they were allegedly shot by the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel and their bodies were thrown into a canal.

Swamy in his appeal challenged the trial court’s March 8, 2013, decision dismissing his plea to probe the role of Chidambaram in the case.

The court was also hearing a bunch of other appeals filed by National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), the Uttar Pradesh government as well as survivors and kin of the victims against the acquittal of 16 PAC personnel on March 21 last year.

The bench asked the Uttar Pradesh government to file documents related to the case as sought by the NHRC and also to file reply on the pleas. The matter has been posted for May 19.

During the hearing, Swamy said that there should be court-monitored CBI probe into the case. The court, however, said that additional application would unnecessarily delay the case.

On March 21 last year, a trial court here gave the benefit of doubt and acquitted 16 former PAC personnel, saying lack of evidence has failed to establish their identification.